Here are the Big Country baseball playoff pairings (through April 29):
GAME STORY: Stamford’s Hernandez bests Coleman’s Torres in thrilling pitchers’ duel to open series
EULA — For seven full innings Wednesday, Stamford’s Alek Hernandez and Coleman’s Brayden Torres went toe to toe and blow for blow like a couple of heavyweight champs.
With each looking to pitch his team to an early advantage in a high-profile Region I-2A Division II bi-district series between the Bulldogs and Bluecats, the senior starters delivered a pitcher’s duel for the ages in front of a strong and appreciative crowd at the Eula Athletic Complex.
In the end, a single run was all that separated the two, and it took seven innings to score as Hernandez and his SHS teammates outlasted Torres and the Bluecats 1-0 in a thrilling series opener that had both coaches feeling romantic about baseball in its aftermath.
GAME STORY: Forsan ties area series with Cisco in eight-inning Game 2 thriller
COAHOMA — One great game deserves another.
Only 24 hours after Cisco had edged Forsan 2-1 in Game 1 of their 2A DI area round series, the Lady Buffaloes evened things up by taking Game 2 in a 7-6 nailbiter in eight innings on Wednesday.
Madi Roach doubled home Elyssa Amaro with the game-winning RBI in the bottom of the eighth — the latter of whom was 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored to lead Forsan (20-10). The decisive third game of the series is currently slated for 8 p.m. on Saturday in Clyde.
Forsan, which saw leads of 4-1 and 6-4 evaporate by the seventh inning, took the disappointments in stride — retaining a lighthearted demeanor that saw them dancing together as a team during warmups.
It eventually paid off.
“If they’re not doing some sort of dance routine before the game I know they’re nervous,” Forsan coach Jason Phillips said. “We want them relaxed, because believe it or not, they’re as dialed in as you could ever believe.”
GAME STORY: Big Spring’s offense sputters in series-opening loss to Springtown
ABILENE — For just the second time this season, the Big Spring softball team was held to two hits as the Lady Steers lost the opening game of their Region I-4A Division I area-round series against Springtown 3-1 on Wednesday night at Cooper’s softball field.
The only other time Big Spring was held to two hits this year was a 3-0 tournament loss to Boyd in a game that ended in the sixth inning by virtue of a time limit. The only other time the Lady Steers were held to one run or less this year was in an 8-1 loss to Snyder on April 7.
Big Spring coach Chelsey Jordan was quick to credit Springtown pitcher Kylee Spray for shutting down the Lady Steers’ offense, but she said that the remainder of the series on Friday, starting at 5 p.m., would play out differently.
GAME STORY: Hamlin explodes for 19 runs to blow out Cross Plains in series opener
EULA — The Hamlin baseball team kicked off its playoff run in dominant fashion Tuesday, scoring early and often in a 19-2 win over Cross Plains in Game 1 of a best-of-three Region I-1A bi-district series at the Eula baseball field.
The Pied Pipers broke a scoreless tie with a five-run second inning and increased their lead to 9-2 by the start of the fifth, when they exploded for 10 runs to put the run rule into effect.
Ian Gruben limited the Buffaloes to two unearned runs over four strong innings to earn the win, which puts HHS in position to clinch the series when play resumes at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday at Eula.
GAME STORY: Cross Plains pulls away for 9-1 win in opener of area-round series with Westbrook
EULA — It took the Cross Plains Lady Buffaloes a few innings to find their offensive stride Tuesday in the opener of their Region I-1A area-round series with Westbrook. But once they did, it was smooth sailing in a 9-1 win over the Lady Cats at the Eula softball field.
With freshman standout Kenzie McLean tossing a gem in the circle, Cross Plains didn’t need to generate much run support. But after breaking through for the game’s first run in the bottom of the third inning, the Lady Buffs put up multiple runs in the each of the next three frames to pull away for the comfortable victory.
McLean, who allowed one hit and one walk while striking out 16 in a complete-game effort, carried a shutout through six innings, before allowing an unearned run in the top of the seventh. The game was well in hand by then, though, putting the Lady Buffs in position to close out the series when it resumes with Game 2 at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday in Eula.
GAME STORY: Cisco takes Game 1 in area series with Forsan
ABILENE — Defense and pitching were at the forefront in Game 1 of a Region I-2A DI area round series between Cisco and Forsan on Tuesday at Cooper High School.
Cisco’s Aubrey Corpus outdueled Forsan’s Makayla Garza in a 2-1 win for Lady Loboes, who can close the series with a Game 2 victory on Wednesday at 6 p.m. in Coahoma. If needed, Game 3 of the series will be on Saturday in Clyde at 8 p.m.
AJ Pevey was 1-for-2 with two runs scored and Corpus was 1-for-3 with the game-winning RBI to lead Cisco (20-8-2), which broke a 1-1 tie when Pevey singled and scored on a Corpus triple in the bottom of the sixth.
Forsan dropped to 19-10 with the loss.
“Both teams are coached well and both showed up to play today,” Cisco coach Vanessa Longoria said. “(The win) was very important. It gives us the momentum, but we can’t get too calm and take it easy tomorrow.”
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Brock’s Blue wins accolade with remarkable performance
If you’re going to top someone who throws a perfect game in our in our Big Country Preps Player of the Week column, you had better do something very special.
This rare occurrence took place last week when Brock sophomore shortstop Kayden Blue helped the Lady Eagles to a three-game bi-district series win over Levelland with a truly memorable performance. In the process, she edged Abilene High ace George Ferguson, who delivered a perfect game win over Cooper.
With Brock sandwiching wins in Games 1 and 3 (5-1 and 5-2) around a 5-4 loss in Game 2, Blue was quite literally unstoppable, going 10-for-10 in the series with five runs scored (accounting for more than a third of BHS’ run tally. Yet it doesn’t stop there. She also posted a pair of walks (one intentional), making her a perfect 12 for 12 in reaching base throughout a difficult series against excellent competition.
“Kayden showed all the characteristics of a great leader in all three games and was phenomenal in the leadoff spot for us”
PHOTO GALLERY: Clyde-Ingram Moore softball bi-district playoff (41 images)
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PHOTO GALLERY: Mineral Wells-Frenship Memorial softball bi-district playoff (54 images)
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PHOTO GALLERY: Albany-Hawley baseball (54 images)
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PHOTO GALLERY: Snyder-Hawley softball (19 images)
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PHOTO GALLERY: Brock-Levelland softball bi-district playoff (60 images)
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GAME STORY: Brock rallies in Game 3 to eliminate Levelland in bi-district round (box scores included)
ABILENE — If it were possible for two high schools separated by 308 miles to become rivals, Brock and Levelland may have just achieved it.
A year removed from a pair of one-run bi-district wins over the Loboettes, Brock eliminated Levelland yet again on Saturday, taking a 4A DII bi-district series with a come-from-behind 5-2 win in Game 3 at McMurry University’s Edwards Field.
After falling to Levelland in a 5-4 Game 2 thriller on Saturday, the Lady Eagles regrouped behind backup pitcher Delanee Parsons and a mind-blowing performance from shortstop Kayden Blue to take Game 3 and advance to the area round. There, they will meet Fort Worth Eagle Mountain in a best-of-three series beginning next week.
Parsons delivered four solid innings to earn the win with a save from ace pitcher Alison Coleman. Blue, in the meantime, capped a 10-for-10 batting tally for the series with a 2-for-2 effort in Game 3 with two runs scored to help Brock improve to 26-10 with the win.
GAME STORY: Clyde softball season comes to an end in stunning fashion
CLYDE — After spending a portion of the season as the No. 1-ranked team in the state, the Clyde softball team found itself with its back against the proverbial wall on Saturday at the Hanner Sports Complex in the Region I-3A Division I bi-district round against Ingram Moore.
With home field advantage in Game 1, the Lady Warriors took advantage of six Clyde errors in a 6-2 win, forcing the Lady Bulldogs into a situation of needing to take two games on their home field to keep their playoff run alive. The loss in the series opener was the Lady Bulldogs’ fifth in their previous six games.
Despite jumping on the Lady Warriors early, the Lady Bulldogs saw their season come to an end in a heartbreaking 4-3 loss. It was a season-ending conversation in the outfield that came too soon for Clyde coach Reagan Sewell as he completed his 30th year in coaching.
GAME STORY: Snyder closes out bi-district series with 10-0 win over Glen Rose
EULA — The Snyder softball team left nothing to chance in its Region I-4A Division II bi-district series with Glen Rose, following a 7-0 win in Game 1 on Thursday with a 10-0 victory Saturday to clinch the best-of-three affair at the Eula softball field.
After using a four-run first to take control of the opener, coach Regina Cummings’ squad scored five in the second inning of Game 2, which was more than enough offense for starter Sydnee Gomez, who tossed six shutout innings for the second consecutive game.
Gomez allowed just one hit and two walks while striking out 13 to earn her second win of the young postseason, while Hannah Rangel closed out the game with a scoreless inning, just as she did in Game 1.
GAME STORY: Colley’s gem helps Abilene High clinch share of first district title since 2015
The Abilene High baseball team locked up a share of its first district championship in more than a decade on Friday, shutting out Cooper 7-0 at Cougar Field to finish the District 4-5A season in a first-place tie with Wylie.
Led by junior starter Gavin Colley, who struck out 11 on his way to a two-hit shutout, the Eagles (21-9-1 overall) improved to 9-3 in league play to match Wylie (20-5-1, 9-3), which rallied for a 5-2 win over Wichita Falls Legacy on Friday to clinch its share of the district title.
In support of Colley, who worked around a pair of walks and three errors to keep Cooper off the board, AHS scored one run in each of the first two innings before breaking the game open with a four-run third. That early production allowed the Eagles to coast to the season sweep of the Cougars, who fell to 11-20-1 overall and 3-9 in league play with the loss.
GAME STORY: Brock stops Levelland, 5-1 in Region I-4A bi-district opener
ABILENE — In a rematch of last year’s thrilling Class 4A DII bi-district series, the Brock Lady Eagles posted a workmanlike 5-1 win over Levelland on Friday at McMurry University’s Edwards Field.
It scarcely resembled what occurred a year ago, when Brock escaped with a pair of one-run victories — 2-1 in Game 1 and 7-6 in 13 innings in Game 2. This time around, the Lady Eagles (25-9) took control of Game 1 early and never relinquished it behind the pitching of Alison Coleman.
Kayden Blue was 4-for-4 with four singles and one run scored and Sloan Booth was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs to lead Brock, which coasted behind a one-hitter from Coleman. The Lady Eagles can end the series with a win in Game 2 on Saturday at noon at McMurry.
Game 3 (if needed) will follow 30 minutes after Game 2.
“I thought our girls came out and (played) hard with a lot of first-game jitters,” Brock coach Gregory Connors said. “We have six freshman starting and it was their first time in a playoff atmosphere. But we started off in that first inning with our bats the way we needed to and it carried us throughout the game.”
GAME STORY: Snyder rides big first inning to 7-0 win in playoff, series opener against Glen Rose
EULA — The Snyder Lady Tigers opened their postseason with a shutout win Thursday night, using a four-run first inning to set the tone for a 7-0 victory over Glen Rose in the opener of a best-of-three Region I-4A Division II bi-district series at the Eula softball field.
Coming off an undefeated run to the District 5-4A championship, SHS controlled the game from start to finish, thanks to the early offensive explosion and a strong start in the circle by Sydnee Gomez.
Coach Regina Cummings’ Lady Tigers, who reached the state semifinals a year ago, will now have a chance to close out the series when it resumes at 10 a.m. Saturday back in Eula.
GAME STORY: Prentice’s big night at the plate sends Mineral Wells to epic bi-district win
After singling in the first inning, Mineral Wells first baseman Kimber Prentice, a freshman, put together a career night as the Lady Rams claimed a 23-8 win over Frenship Memorial in a Region I-4A Division I bi-district game on Thursday night at Abilene Christian University’s Poly Wells Field.
Prentice tripled in her next three at-bats and drove in six runs in the game as the Lady Rams advanced to face either Decatur or Fort Worth Western Hills next week.
Entering the playoffs, Prentice was hitting .311 on the season with three triples. With a season-high five hits, she raised her batting average by 36 points to .347. The monster night came after she was forced to miss Mineral Wells’ regular-season finale after sustaining a concussion on April 14 against Stephenville.
Area Baseball Stat Leaders (through April 23)
Here are the area’s baseball statistical leaders through April 23.
Statistics are from throughout the Big Country Preps circulation area as submitted by coaches. These lists will be continually updated as we receive more submissions.
If your favorite team is missing, please give your head coach a friendly reminder to check his email for our weekly stat request or send Evan Ren a note at Evan.Ren@BigCountryPreps.com.
FINAL Area Softball Stat Leaders for 2026
Here are the area’s softball statistical leaders through April 23. With the regular season now concluded, this will be our final softball stat report for 2026.
Statistics are from throughout the Big Country Preps circulation area as submitted by coaches. These lists will be continually updated as we receive more submissions.
If your favorite team is missing, please give your head coach a friendly reminder to check his or her email for our weekly stat request or send Evan Ren a note at Evan.Ren@BigCountryPreps.com.
GAME STORY: Wall outlasts Jim Ned for 2-1 win in thrilling end to regular season
TUSCOLA — The District 6-3A race saw a fierce battle between No. 4 Wall and No. 5 Jim Ned all season long and it came down to the final night of the regular season between the two heavy hitters on Wednesday night.
After being postponed by 24 hours due to the storms that came through the Big Country on Monday night, the Hawks won a 2-1 thriller in front of a standing-room-only crowd at Indian Field.
It was a much different outcome than Wall’s 10-5 win over the Indians on Friday — a game that gave Jim Ned its first loss of the season as it had entered that game ranked No. 1 in the state.
GAME STORY: Ferguson’s perfect game fuels Abilene High to 5-0 Senior Night win over Cooper
During a junior season that might best be described as “otherworldly,” Abilene High ace George Ferguson has flirted with perfection on several occasions.
On Tuesday, against crosstown rival Cooper, the 6-foot-4 flamethrower finally achieved it.
Pitching in front of a packed Senior Night crowd at Blackburn Field, Ferguson retired all 21 batters he faced to lead the Eagles to a 5-0 win over the Cougars. The University of Texas commit needed just 82 pitches to complete his first career perfect game, notching 16 strikeouts in the process.
GAME STORY: Hawley claims third district title since 2015 with win over Albany
HAWLEY — The Hawley baseball team ended its run in the current itineration of District 8-2A on Tuesday night the same way that it started it during the 2014-15 school year: as district champions.
The Bearcats claimed their third district championship in that span — matching the effort of the 2015 and 2019 squads — with an 11-4 win over Albany.
Having spent the past dozen years competing against the likes of Albany, Stamford and Anson, among others, the Bearcats will find themselves in a new look District 8-2A starting next year with Albany, Abilene TLCA, Bangs, Coleman and Cross Plains. After Tuesday’s game, Bearcats coach Jamie Seago took time to recognize the competition that the current version of the district has given his squad.
PHOTO GALLERY: Jim Ned-Wall softball (30 images)
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PHOTO GALLERY: Anson-Stamford baseball (25 images)
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PHOTO GALLERY: Hawley-Stamford baseball (35 images)
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BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Ferguson’s heartbreak sufficient for this week’s award
There are varying degrees of “no-hitter” in both high school baseball and softball. This is especially true when the mercy rule is concerned, with pitchers holding the opposition hitless through five innings (in a 10-run rule game) and in the case of the 15-run rule, through only three frames.
Whether those should be called actual no-hitters, depends on who you speak to.
There was, however, nothing arguable about the potential no-no delivered by Abilene junior pitcher George Ferguson in last week’s 2-0 win over Wichita Falls Memorial. To begin with, Ferguson held Memorial hitless through 8.2 innings before finally giving up an infield single in the ninth. In the process, he walked only one batter and fanned 17.
It was nothing short of a brilliant performance against a Memorial team that had won eight straight games. If ever one deserved credit for a no-hitter without actually throwing one, it’s Ferguson.
“George did a great job on the mound from start to finish and that included a 45-minute weather delay,” coach Brad Harman said.
Big Country Baseball Standings (through April 20)
Here are the standings for all baseball districts involving Big Country schools (through April 20):
Continue reading “Big Country Baseball Standings (through April 20)”
Big Country Softball Standings (Final)
Here are the final standings for all softball districts involving Big Country schools (through April 21):
PHOTO GALLERY: Abilene High-Wichita Falls Memorial baseball (52 images)
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PHOTO GALLERY: Wylie-Cooper baseball (68 images
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GAME STORY: Jim Ned girls run the District 6-3A table, capped by 3-2 nailbiter at Wall (box score included)
WALL — It was the polar opposite of a 13-10 Jim Ned win in the District 6-3A opener with Wall way back on March 6. Friday’s rematch at WHS saw the Lady Indians top Wall yet again. But this time, the product was a well-pitched, cleanly played, 3-2 defensive struggle.
Halle Nielson was 4-for-4 with the game-winning RBI and Hadley Sanders was 2-for-4 with a run scored to lead 13th-ranked Jim Ned (25-4, 12-0) which concluded a perfect run through district play with the win. Seventh-ranked Wall dropped to 24-5 overall and 9-3.
Trailing 2-1 heading into the final inning, Jim Ned rallied with two runs in the top of the seventh then held Wall scoreless in the bottom of the frame to seal the win.
“Our philosophy all year has been if you have a chip and a chair, you’re in the game,” said Jim Ned coach Erica Jones, using poker terminology to describe the Lady Indians’ comeback win. “I never doubted. I knew we were going to (come back). … We just had to be a little more disciplined and find some gaps.”
GAME STORY: Walker, Garrett shine as Wylie offense explodes for 11-1 run-rule win over Cooper
Needing a win over Cooper and an Abilene High loss to Wichita Falls Memorial to move back into position to control its own destiny in the District 4-5A championship race, the Wylie baseball team got both Friday.
The Bulldogs did their part with an 11-1 home win over the Cougars, while Memorial rallied past AHS for a 7-5 win on the other side of town to create a logjam atop the league standings, where Wylie (18-5-1, 7-3), Abilene High (19-9-1, 7-3) and Memorial (15-14, 8-4) all remain in contention for the district title.
The rule-rule victory — and the offensive explosion that helped facilitate it — were both welcome sights for Wylie coach Grant Martin, whose team was coming off a 2-0 win over Cooper on Tuesday and had averaged just four runs per game over its last five contests. And with Friday’s results, the Bulldogs can now clinch at least a share of the district championship with a sweep of last-place Wichita Falls Legacy in its final district series next week.
GAME STORY: Wichita Falls Memorial rallies past Abilene High on night former coach is honored
April 16 is slowly turning into Jim Reese Day on the campus of Abilene High.
Five years to the day after Reese was honored with a retirement ceremony as he neared the end of his career leading the AHS softball team, the Abilene High baseball team honored the man that led that program from 1995-1999 prior to their District 4-5A matchup with Wichita Falls Memorial at Blackburn Field on Thursday.
Under Reese’s leadership, the Eagles reached the third round of the playoffs in 1996, 1997 and 1998. The final two years were as the District 4-5A champion while the first run came after AHS finished in third place in district.
Coming off a 1-0 win in nine innings over the Mavericks on Tuesday, the Eagles saw several missed opportunities early in the game come back to cost them late as Memorial rallied for a 7-5 win to spoil the night’s festivities that saw former AHS coaches Derran Lackey and Ryan Lewis in attendance, along with a number players whose lives have been touched by Reese.
EVAN REN: What’s that blip on the radar? Perhaps one of the best Jim Ned softball teams ever
TUSCOLA — While it may be a bit early to start talking about the best Jim Ned softball teams of all time, one thing can be backed up with facts: the Lady Indians have clinched their first district title in nearly two decades and coach Erica Jones believes it’s about time The Tribe received a little recognition.
And, after having endured a 22-minute butt chewing from Jones (I timed it) on Wednesday, I certainly wouldn’t disagree.
Entering today’s matchup with seventh-ranked Wall, the Lady Indians are 24-4 overall (despite a very difficult schedule) and 11-0 in District 3-3A. They are ranked 13th in the state and are coming off an impressive 7-3 win over 15th-ranked Clyde on Tuesday night — a victory that locked up the district title and one I missed to cover an area baseball game.
That didn’t go over too well, which is understandable.
The Lady Indians, regardless of the outcome against Wall today, will have the district’s top seed heading into the playoffs — something we haven’t seen from Jim Ned softball since the George W. Bush Administration. That’s a long time ago. So long ago, that it predates the birth dates of any current Jim Ned player.
Area Baseball Stat Leaders (through April 16)
Here are the area’s baseball statistical leaders through April 16.
Statistics are from throughout the Big Country Preps circulation area as submitted by coaches. These lists will be continually updated as we receive more submissions.
If your favorite team is missing, please give your head coach a friendly reminder to check his email for our weekly stat request or send Evan Ren a note at Evan.Ren@BigCountryPreps.com.
Area Softball Stat Leaders (through April 16)
Here are the area’s softball statistical leaders through April 16.
Statistics are from throughout the Big Country Preps circulation area as submitted by coaches. These lists will be continually updated as we receive more submissions.
If your favorite team is missing, please give your head coach a friendly reminder to check his or her email for our weekly stat request or send Evan Ren a note at Evan.Ren@BigCountryPreps.com.
GAME STORY: Abilene High clinches outright district title, spoils Wylie’s Senior Night with 18-2 win
When the Abilene High and Wylie softball teams have met in recent years, the result has typically been a thrilling, low-margin pitcher’s duel, where scoring opportunities are rare and every run feels like a small victory.
Heading into Tuesday’s matchup between the teams at Bulldog Field, the last five regular-season meetings had been decided by two or fewer runs with just 14 combined runs being scored in those games.
Tuesday’s game was … well … different. After a scoreless first inning seemed to foreshadow another tight, low-scoring affair, the Lady Eagles exploded for five runs in the second. And the hits and runs continued from there for AHS, which pounded out an 18-2 victory to spoil Wylie’s Senior Night and complete its second consecutive perfect run through District 4-5A play.
DISTRICT 4-5A BASEBALL: Fletcher, McCarty combine for shutout as Wylie takes thriller over Cooper; Ferguson dominant in AHS win
While the Cooper and Wylie baseball teams will be headed to the postseason in different playoff brackets, there was still a lot on the line for both sides when they met at Cougar Field on Tuesday in a key District 4-5A matchup.
Cooper entered the Southtown Showdown trailing Abilene High by three games in the standings in the race for the top seed in the Division I bracket with four games to play — including a pair with the Eagles next week. The Cougars entered the game knowing that they would probably have to go 4-0 over the next two weeks against their crosstown foes to improve their playoff positioning.
Wylie, on the other hand, trailed Wichita Falls Memorial by one game for the top seed in the Division II bracket — with the Mavericks holding the head-to-head tiebreaker after taking two of three district contests from the Bulldogs. Wylie was in better shape, knowing that Memorial closes out its regular season this week against AHS and the Bulldogs would potentially be in control of their own seeding destiny with a win on Tuesday.